Batn el Yamani

Yossi Elisha

25/05/2006

Final Report

A salvage excavation was conducted in May 2001 at Batn el Yamani, south of the Quartermaster Corp memorial (Permit No. A-3545*; map ref. NIG 19475/65250; OIG 14475/15250), after damage was caused to ancient remains when Highway 444 was widened near Tel Hadid. The excavation, on behalf of the Antiquities Authority and financed by the Department of Public Works, was directed by Y. Elisha, assisted by R. Abu Khalaf (administration) and A. Hajian (surveying).

A natural pit (2.00 × 3.45 m; Fig. 1) that contained small stones and fragments of pottery vessels from the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, as well as a fragment of a limestone ‘measuring’ cup from the Early Roman period, was excavated. It seems that the potsherds and stones were washed into the pit by the rain.